The leaves keep falling and the weather continues to get colder, which means it’s time to prepare your roof for winter. No one wants to experience a collapsed roof or bursting pipes on a cold winter’s day, which is why winterizing your roof during the fall is so important! Follow these tips to keep your home safe this winter.
Part of winterizing your roof is to just take a look around to make sure everything looks the way it should be. If anything looks out of place or needs repair, it is best to get it done before winter sets in.
Major things to look out for are:
Repair and reseal any areas that may have weathered or cracked sealant to prevent water leakage, and double check any areas where shingles meet flashings. The shingles should lay above the metal, not underneath.
Once you’ve checked over the structure of your roof and everything looks in good shape, it’s time to start cleaning. Clumps of debris and dirt on your roof when the freezing rain or snow hits can cause major damage to your roof. Protect your roof from frozen piles of leaves, twigs, and branches by blowing away any debris on your roof, making sure to clear out all the valleys and other hidden crevices.
Next, clean out your gutters. If you’ve noticed that your gutters are sagging, splitting, peeling paint, rusty, or overflowing during rain, then it may be time to replace them. Otherwise, clear away any debris to ensure proper water drainage. Keeping your gutters clear will not only help water to drain correctly, but it also prevents ice accumulation, which could cause major damage to your house.
Lastly, it’s time to clear out your exhaust vents. Cleaning the exhaust vents are an easy item to overlook, and most professionals recommend getting it done once a year. If you haven’t cleaned your exhaust vents this year, there’s no better time than before winter hits.
Maintaining and taking care of your roof can seem daunting, but IBEX is here to help take the pressure off. Whether you need a roof inspection, gutter cleaning, or a complete roof repair, we are here to help you prepare your roof for winter! Give us a call to set up an appointment today.
What can you do to make sure you are protected during your roofing project in Vancouver WA and/or Portland OR?
Perhaps this is a no-brainer, but the first step is to make sure your roofer is licensed to do work in your state. Whether you are looking for a roof in Vancouver or Portland, they should have a business license for the appropriate state. Because our metro area spans two states, it can get a little tricky! Just remember to hire someone who is licensed in the same state as where the roof work will be complete. It may not seem like a big deal if you meet someone trustworthy, but following this rule is important and for your own protection!
What is a bond? A bond protects you in case the roofer fails to complete the project or runs off with your money. The roofer should show you proof of their bond. Both Oregon and Washington have separate bond requirements. Depending on the state they are located in, the paperwork may look a little different. However, in both states, the bond paperwork should show the amount of the bond. NEVER GIVE YOUR ROOFER A DOWN PAYMENT LARGER THAN THEIR BOND BEFORE WORK STARTS.
Does worker’s compensation matter for your roofing project? While #3 on the list, it is without a doubt the most important. If your roofer doesn’t have worker’s comp for every single employee, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES ($$$) that happen on your job site. Roofing is ranked #4 in terms of workplace fatalities. Don’t believe it? Here’s a link to a lawyer’s website where someone fell off the roof: http://www.rhlaw.com/blog/homeowner-sued-by-subcontractors-injured-employee/
Many companies hire subcontractors as a way of getting out of the responsibility of ensuring all requirements are met and cutting costs. Besides the legal issues involved with hiring roofers and subs, the roofing contractor working on your roof may not show up if an issue arises. Thus begins the finger-pointing, while you have water pouring in your bedroom….
Whether you’re looking for a roofer in Vancouver WA, Portland OR, or somewhere else, these are just four of the many questions you need to ask your roofing contractor. For a more complete guide to your roofing project. Get in touch with IBEX Roof for an estimate with one of our knowledgeable roofing estimators!
Well, the so called killer may not be quite what you were expecting, however, it’s a pretty big deal none-the-less. Let’s discuss attic venting.
A very real issue, improper attic venting can cause big problems for your roof, your home’s structural integrity, and your family’s health. When a home’s attic is not properly vented, condensation occurs. Condensation in your attic mostly occurs during the winter months when you are heating your home and the attic is feeling the heat from below and the cold from above. However, in the summer an improperly vented attic can reach extremely high temperatures which is equally unhealthy. The closer the attic is to the outside temperature, the better. So, what’s wrong with condensation? A lot of things, like:
There are some contributing factors that you can control, such as:
So, what’s the real answer? You don’t need to panic. The recommended number of vents depends on roof slope and whether or not your attic floor has a vapor barrier. The ratio usually lies somewhere between 1:150 and 1:300 (square feet of venting to square feet of attic space).
Also, the square footage of intake vents must be equal to or greater than the square footage of exhaust vents.
Pretty simple really. If it’s all a bit too much for you, don’t worry, a quick inspection from your preferred roofer will ease your mind. Or at the least give you a sense of direction.
The bottom line here: Don’t let the monster in the attic kill your mojo. And, of course, remember that IBEX Roof has your back.
(360)218-3108
Surely you’ve heard the phrase, “knowledge is power”? Well this certainly holds true when you go to sell your home. Often, home-owners may wonder what (if anything) they need to do about their roof before they sell. And the short answer is, well, there is no short answer! But we do have a few “rules of thumb” to use as a guide.
So there you have it! Now YOU have the knowledge that will give you power when selling your home. Power to relax when your home inspection results come through, power to keep your money in your pocket (or at least boomerang it), power to negotiate when the bidding war starts, power to sell your home in the shape you would want to buy it!
And of course, if you still have burning questions or simply need a roofing contractor that will exceed all your expectations, call us!
As part of our thank you for your business, we wanted share some professional tips for keeping your roof in good shape:
Keep it clean: Blow off any debris sitting on your roof like leaves, fir needles, or even dust and tree flowers. If you do this 2-4 times a year, it’ll help you beat moss growth and avoid water backup during storms. Plus, it will keep roof looking beautiful!
Stay ahead of the moss: If you have an algae resistant shingle, all you need to is keep it clean. Otherwise, watch for areas that are prone for moss like the north side and overhanging trees. Here you can use zinc powder before the moss has a chance to grow.
Trim back your trees: Trees are super hard on roofs, so you’ll want to trim them back to keep debris from falling onto the roof. If the branches are actually touching the roof, this will create water dams and could really damage the shingles! And, as mentioned earlier, this will accelerate moss growth.
Maintenance Mistakes: Sometimes roof damage is caused by good intentions, so we want to make sure you have the right information about caring for your roof:
Follow these simple steps and your roof is to keep looking beautiful for years to come.
